Sunday, January 27, 2008

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.The winner is Grace of Sandier Pastures.Congratulations!

As you know, we are a household of electronic lovers - especially MP3s. I believe we have a total of 8 different types among us not including the ones on our cell phones. So you can imagine my excitement when I was offered the opportunity to review the Insignia Pilot Video MP3 Player from Best Buy.

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 25 hours of playback time

The first thing I noticed was that it has a very stylish look. Now if only I could get it out of the packaging! I swear this thing is so packed protected that I feared bodily injury when trying to free it from it's plastic. However, once that was accomplished, setting it up was a breeze. As another reviewer said, "It's so easy, even a caveman could do it." I'm not kidding! The instruction manual that came with it is only a piece of paper because that's really all that's needed.

What I really liked about this MP3 player is the FM tuner. It's kind of cool to be able to listen to the local news updates or traffic reports whenever you want to. The reception is crisp and clear and you're able to program 20 of your favorite stations.

Loading music, photos, and videos were a breeze. This player is not compatible with iTunes, however, Best Buy does have it's own Digital Music Store. If you really wanted to, you could burn a CD copy of your iTune purchases, download them to this program, and sync your player. Not a big deal.

It's pretty cool to have a video player on hand especially when grocery shopping with the kids. Anything that keeps them quiet in public for a decent amount of time is always a plus for me! And since it has a media card slot, memory is never a problem.

All in all, I love this MP3 player. And coming from an iPod diehard, that's saying a lot. For the price of $129.99, this presents an affordable option for those looking to take their music on-the-go.

Guess what? I have a brand new, never opened (I'll leave that up to you but be careful!), Insignia Pilot Video MP3 Player & Bluetooth Headphones for one lucky person to win. How cool is that? To enter, just stop by Best Buy before February 1st and see what it's all about. Then come back and let me know what feature interests you the most. That's it! A random winner will be selected and notified on February 2nd.

To earn extra entries, just subscribe to my feed and/or mention this giveaway on your site with a link back here and to Best Buy. Let me know if you're doing the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. PLEASE don't forget to leave a way to contact you.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.The winner is Mo of Un-Mainstream Mom.Congratulations!

If your kids like the Backyardigans, they'll love Surf's Up!

Product Description: "The Backyardigans are a group of five young friends who get together daily to play in the backyard they share. Each day, their imaginations transform that backyard into a different fantastic, photo-realistic landscape, and they go off on a high-stakes quest full of song, dance, and adventure Title Overview: "Surf’s Up!" will be the fifth The Backyardigans home video title. The main episode centers around the Backyardigans as surfers searching for the perfect wave to Afro-pop tunes. The main program of the DVD will include 4 episodes, each approximately 24 minutes in length."

How would you like to win a brand new copy of your very own? To enter, just leave a comment below before February 1st saying which character is your favorite. That's it! A random winner will be selected and notified on February 2nd.

To earn extra entries, just subscribe to my feed or mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here. Please let me know if you're doing the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you if you win!

Product Description: Everyone's favorite purple dinosaur continues his dino-mite 20th year anniversary with the all-new, direct-to-DVD special "Celebrating Around The World." Young explorers take a super-dee-duper adventure with Barney, BJ, Baby Bop and Riff to Brazil, Kenya, India, Japan, and Ireland where they learn about different cultures, including traditional music and dance, and explore the ways people celebrate around the world.

Baby Bug is a big fan of Barney, especially the music. She enjoys the colorful and upbeat songs, dances, and props. That's why I knew this video would be a big hit with her. However, what really surprised me is that I enjoyed it, too.

There are some familiar songs as well as brand new ones which will undoubtedly become Barney classics. Our favorite destination was Japan where the Cherry Blossom Festival is held complete with authentic kimonos and traditional Odori dances.

This video is scheduled to be released on January 29th for $13.49 and is definitely one you'll want for your collection.

Friday, January 18, 2008

I love coffee. I can barely function in the morning until I have my first cup of java. That’s why when I found out about a great offer from Senseo Gourmet Coffee, I jumped at the chance.

Offer: The people at Senseo are offering a free Coffee Pod System, a bag of Senseo coffee pods, and a coffee pod canister (value $70 +). All you need to do is pay for the shipping & handling ($15). To find out if you qualify, just fill out their short survey and you’ll get your results immediately.

After filling out their relatively short online survey, I was immediately notified that I had qualified. I sent my $15 via PayPal and then waited for it to arrive. It took about 4 weeks and it arrived I was pleasantly surprised.

The coffee system has a very modern look and built well. It came with everything that was promised and the instruction manual was easy to understand. It took up very little space on my counter which is also a plus!

Before you brew your first cup, you MUST flush out the system. This is a one-time thing. Let me warn you though, the flushing noise is a little louder than you’d expect. It took me by surprise and I almost dropped my cup!

Once that’s done, you can now start brewing. The whole system was very easy to use and I love the idea of being able to place your cup under the spout and make just one cup of coffee because this eliminates the need to wash a coffee pot.

The downside is that it’s designed to only use the Senseo coffee/tea pods and I’m not sure how readily available they are in your local grocery stores. You may purchase them online for various prices and quantities.

Bottom line: It’s a very good deal and the coffee tasted great. It has a stylish design and it’s easy to use.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.The winner is Brit of And baby makes 3 . . .Congratulations!

Hey all you Shrek fans! I've got a copy of Shrek the Third DVD to giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment below before midnight, January 22nd saying who your favorite character from the movie is. That's it. A random winner will be selected and contacted on January 23rd.

To earn extra entries, just subscribe to my feed or blog about this giveaway with a link back here. Also, please leave a way to contact you in case you win.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!

Product description: "When Shrek married Fiona the last thing he had in mind was becoming the next King of Far Far Away. But when Shrek’s father-in-law, King Harold, suddenly croaks, that is exactly what he faces. Recruiting Donkey and Puss In Boots for a new quest, Shrek sets out to bring back the rightful heir to the throne. Meanwhile back in the kingdom, Fiona's jilted Prince Charming storms the city with an army of fairy tale villains to seize the throne. Fiona and a band of princesses must stop him to ensure there will be a kingdom left to rule!"

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Here in Hawaii, we don't have your typical winter cold. However, that doesn't mean we don't get sick once in a while. And since it's flu season, what better time than now to review the Puffs Plus Lotion from Vicks.

From the site: Puffs Plus with the Scent of Vicks combines soothing lotion with the comforting scent of Vicks. The lotion contains aloe, chamomile, and vitamin E; the scent of Vicks contains eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor. This great combination offers soothing comfort when you need it most.

When you first smell it, you may think the scent is a little strong. However, if you're congested, you'll be thankful for the vapor action. Believe me.

A while ago I had a slight cold probably due to all the germs on the airplane. Luckily, I had this handy travel pack of 12 2-ply tissues with me. These ultra-soft, Vicks scented tissues were exactly what I needed. Not only did the vapor help clear my congestion a little but it also eased the soreness of my nose from all the blowing.

My girls, on the other hand, did not really care for it. However, what kid likes to blow their nose in the first place? For them, the Vicks Vapor Rub usually works a lot better. The warm soothing feel helps them get a good night's sleep. It was something my Mom used on me and now it's something I use on them.

Bottom line: Great product, however, probably better suited for adults than kids.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

"Children spend more time watching television than any other activity . . ." The National Institute on Media and the Family

I admit it, on occasion I have been guilty of using the television as a baby sitter. I really do try to limit the time the girls spend watching the tube but sometimes I just can't help turning it on so I can tune out. So who can blame them when they start to rebel once I come to my senses and pull the plug?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children’s screentime should be limited to one to two hours of quality programming per day. However, young people spend an average of three hours per day watching television, 49 minutes per day playing video games and more than an hour per day using the computer for something other than schoolwork.This is where BOB The Screentime Controller comes in. BOB puts an end to child-parent conflicts about screentime by setting limits to how long a child is allowed to watch television. Once that limit is reached, electronics are shut off. The great thing about this device is that you can use it on any electronic device that has a screen. And it can be programmed to monitor 6 different users.

How would you like to win BOB (value $99) for your family? To enter, just leave a comment below before January 15th mentioning how many hours you think your family watches television on a daily basis. That's it. A random winner will be selected and notified on January 16th.

As usual, you may earn extra entries by subscribing to my feed or by mentioning this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to BOB The Screentime Controller. Let me know if you're doing/did the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

A while ago I had the opportunity to review Pampers Cruisers Diapers and Baby Wipes. I was thrilled to do so because who doesn't love free diapers?

Ever since Girlie Girl was born 6 years ago, I have always bought Huggies. I'm not sure why. I guess it's because it's what my sister used on her kids and I've always felt that a diaper is a diaper. Therefore, I really wasn't expecting Pampers to be any different. After all, how different can a diaper be?

At first glance, I noticed that the side tabs were a lot narrower than I'm used to. I wondered if this would result in less coverage and more leakage. It didn't. In fact, not only did stay in place, but it also made Baby Bug more flexible without leaving elastic marks on her legs (she has really chubby legs). We didn't have a single accident and that diaper can sure hold a lot! hee hee

The Cruisers come in sizes 3 - 7 and can accommodate kids up to 41 lbs plus.

As for the wipes, they were a little softer than the Huggies brand and because of this, it was a little harder for me to use when changing Baby Bug's diaper. I'm sure it was a lot more comfortable for her but it didn't slide on her butt as easily. I really liked the smell, though. It was great for wiping up the kids when they got messy.

All in all, I thought Pampers Diapers and Wipes were really good. It is something I would recommend to all parents.

Join their Gifts to Grow Program and receive free samples, valuable coupons, and a chance to win a year's supply of diapers and training pants!

The Hawaiian House Now by Malia Mattoch McManus & Linny Morris, is a beautiful 192-page hardcover book highlighting the most amazing homes in Hawaii.

Taken from the book:

"From dramatic oceanfront homes to old cottages full of memories, Hawaiian houses combine architecture and location to create a sense of relaxation. As people from all over the world (Polynesians, New England missionaries, East and Southeast Asians) have put down roots in the islands, they have combined international motifs with a more traditional Hawaiian ambiance—to produce an informally eclectic style that is perfectly suited to contemporary lifestyles.

The Hawaiian House Now takes the reader on a tour of 21 specially photographed homes throughout the islands of Oahu, Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, and Kauai, including houses that update the “aloha spirit” of traditional Hawaii; town houses in Honolulu; country houses; fantasy houses that express a personal vision; houses that blend the indoors and outdoors; original architectural statements; and, of course, beach houses."

Words just cannot convey the beauty of these full-paged color photographs. Each time I thought I saw the most beautiful home I've ever seen, I would turn the page and there would be another one even more gorgeous. The outdoor architectures really make the most of Hawaii's natural beauty.

This book sells for $40 and is currently on backorder for 3 weeks. However, I have 2 copies to give away to some very lucky winners! To enter, just leave a comment below before January 8th saying what your favorite thing about Hawaii is. That's it! A random winner will be selected on January 9th.

As usual, you may receive extra entries by subscribing to my feed or by mentioning this giveaway on your blog. Please let me know if you're doing/did the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. Also, PLEASE leave a way to contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. However, please note that since these books are very heavy, they will be sent out to the winners via Media Mail.